A second Franklin man has been charged with robbing and beating up another man in an attempted drug deal.
A criminal complaint filed by Franklin police with district judge Matthew Kirtland names Jamie Leroy McCool Jr., 20, of 1220 Railroad St., as a second suspect in the incident that reportedly happened on the morning and afternoon of March 18.
A co-defendant, Cleo McKinney Jr., 19, of 1130 Liberty St., has also been charged.
The complaint says police were informed March 18 of a possible robbery that had occurred involving the purchase of a quarter ounce of marijuana from McKinney.
Police discovered that McKinney and the other man had communicated about the drug delivery via text and Facebook messages. The messaging began about 8 a.m. March 18 and both parties agreed to meet about noon at a parking lot on Buffalo Street, police said.
When the man arrived, McKinney and McCool – who was identified to police by McKinney – approached him and said they needed to pick up the marijuana at another location. As they made their way to the other location and when the buyer was secluded from public view, the buyer was reportedly assaulted and choked, police said.
As the man tried to defend himself, McCool reportedly made a racial comment as they removed his wallet, stealing at least $500 from the man, police said. McCool dropped an unknown amount of money and McKinney picked it up and returned it to McCool, the complaint said.
Both McCool and McKinney ran from the scene, leaving the victim on the ground, police said.
McCool is charged with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture of deliver a controlled substance. He is also charged with a felony count of robbery – inflict or threat immediate bodily injury and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking – movable property and simple assault.
McKinney is charged with conspiracy manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. He is also charged with felony counts of conspiracy robbery – inflict or threat immediate bodily injury and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility.
McKinney is also charged with misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking of movable property and simple assault.
Both are facing upcoming hearings in Venango County Central Court.
